German city Leipzig plans to abandon coal by 2023

MDR

The eastern German city of Leipzig wants to end the use of coal for heat and power production by 2023 and replace coal plants with gas turbines until a completely fossil-free power supply is possible, public broadcaster MDR reports. Situated between two of Germany’s three lignite [brown coal] mining regions, Leipzig plans to invest about 150 million euros in gas turbines and also wants to expand the use of biomass, solar heating and solar power. “We have to live with the fact that [workers at the nearby coal power station] Lippendorf will feel snubbed by that,” Leipzig’s mayor Burkhard Jung said. According to the Green Party, Lippendorf will no longer be profitable without Leipzig as its main customer, the article says.